Compositions comprising abscisic acid and a fungicidally active compound

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to methods comprising applying to a useful plant, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of abscisic acid and a fungicidally active compound, which fungicidally active compound is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, in particular for increasing the potency of a fungicidally active compound. The invention also relates to compositions comprising abscisic acid and the fungicidally active compounds as well as seeds comprising the combinations.

This application is a 371 of International Application No.PCT/EP2011/068438 filed Oct. 21, 2011, which claims priority to EP10188312.2 filed Oct. 21,2010, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

The present invention relates to combinations of abscisic acid and afungicidally active compound, which fungicidally active compound is asuccinate dehydrogenase inhibitor. In particular, the invention relatesto methods of applying the combinations to plants, as well ascompositions and seeds comprising the combinations.

The class of fungicides known as succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors isan art-recognised class with a mode of action that targets the enzymesuccinate dehydrogenase (SDH, so-called complex II in the mitochondrialrespiration chain), which is a functional part of the tricarboxyliccycle and linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Examplesinclude Isopyrazam, Sedaxane, Penthiopyrad, Bixafen and Fluxapyroxad.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is also known as abscisin II and dormin. It has theformulaS—(Z,E)]-5-(1-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxo-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentanedienoicacid:

Abscisic acid is known to play a role in how plants respond to weatherstresses such as cold and drought. WO 2007/008580 describes methods ofimparting increased stress resistance on a plant, in particularincreasing plant drought and cold resistance, by application of abscisicacid and one or more specific triazole compounds. WO 2010/015337describes the use of specific azoles for increasing the resistance ofplants to abiotic stress factors.

There is a continuing need to find methods of protecting plants fromphytopathogenic organisms, whilst limiting the impact of such methods onthe environment.

It has now surprisingly been found that abscisic acid can increase thefungicidal effect of fungicides from the class of succinatedehydrogenase inhibitors. This allows the rate of application of thefungicides to be reduced whilst maintaining a high level of efficacy.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a methodcomprising applying to a useful plant, the locus thereof or propagationmaterial thereof a combination of abscisic acid and a fungicidallyactive compound, which fungicidally active compound is a succinatedehydrogenase inhibitor. The method may be for increasing the potency ofthe fungicidally active compound. Increasing the potency, means forexample, increasing the fungicidal effect using the same amount offungicidal compound.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of increasing thepotency of a fungicidally active compound, which fungicidally activecompound is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, comprising applyingabscisic acid to a useful plant, the locus thereof or propagationmaterial thereof. The method may also comprise applying the succinatedehydrogenase inhibitor to the useful plant, the locus thereof orpropagation material thereof.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method comprising mixingabscisic acid and a fungicidally active compound, which fungicidallyactive compound is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor. Said mixing maybe to produce a composition comprising the abscisic acid and succinatedehydrogenase inhibitor prior to application to a useful plant, thelocus thereof or propagation material thereof. Alternatively, saidmixing may occur in situ by applying the abscisic acid and succinatedehydrogenase inhibitor separately to a useful plant, the locus thereofor propagation material thereof.

In a further aspect the invention provides a composition comprisingabscisic acid and a fungicidally active compound, which fungicidallyactive compound is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor. The compositionmay additionally comprise customary formulation ingredients, e.g. acarrier, surfactant, optionally an adjuvant. The composition may alsocomprise additional active ingredients, e.g. insecticide, a fungicide,synergist, herbicide or plant growth regulator, preferably a fungicide.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method comprising treatinga seed with abscisic acid and a fungicidally active compound, whichfungicidally active compound is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor. Forexample, said treatment will usually result in a seed coated withabscisic acid and the fungicidally active compound. The abscisic acidand fungicidally active compound may be applied to the seedsimultaneously, e.g. so that the mixture is homogenous, or they may beapplied separately, e.g. to result in layers. In a further aspect theinvention provides a seed comprising abscisic acid and a fungicidallyactive compound, which fungicidally active compound is a succinatedehydrogenase inhibitor.

In a further aspect the invention provides use of abscisic acid forincreasing the fungicidal potency of a fungicidally active compound,which fungicidally active compound is a succinate dehydrogenaseinhibitor. For example, the use of abscisic is for increasing thefungicidal potency of the fungicidally active compound in a methodcomprising applying to a useful plant, the locus thereof or propagationmaterial thereof a combination of abscisic acid and a fungicidallyactive compound.

Preferably the useful plant is one that is at risk of an infection ofSeptoria tritici (Mycosphaerella graminicola).

Reference to abscisic acid includes reference to abscisic acidanalogues, although preferably refers to abscisic acid per se. Suchanalogues include and are preferably derivatives of abscisic acid, thatmay not occur in nature, but which are capable of performingsubstantially the same function in a plant as natural abscisic acid.Examples of abscisic acid analogues include aryl sulphonamide analoguesof abscisic acid e.g. pyrabactin and pyrabactin based-ABA receptoragonists such as those described in Melcher et al., Nature Structural &Molecular Biology, 2010, 17, 1102-1108.

The succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor class of fungicides includesphenyl benzamides, e.g. benodanil, flutolanil and mepronil;pyridinyl-ethyl-benzamides, e.g. fluopyram, furan-carboxamides, e.g.fenfuram, oxathin-carboxamides, e.g. carobxin oxycarboxin;thiazole-carboxamides, e.g. thifluzamide; pyrazole carboxamides, e.g.bixafen, furametpyr, isopyrazem, penflufen, penthiopyrad and sedaxane;and pyridine carboxamides, e.g. boscalid.

Preferably the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide according tothe invention is a compound of formula I:

wherein R¹ is C₁-C₄haloalkyl;

-   R³ is methyl or ethyl;-   A is thienyl, phenyl, or ethylene each optionally substituted by one    to three groups independently selected from halogen, methyl and    methoxy;-   B is a direct bond, cyclopropylene, an annelated    bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane- or bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene ring;-   D is hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₆ alkoxy,    C₁-C₆ haloalkoxy, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₆ alkylidene, C₁-C₆    haloalkylidene, phenyl or phenyl optionally substituted by one to    three substituents independently selected from halogen and    trihalomethylthio.

The compound of formula I is preferably a compound of formula II(Isopyrazam), a compound of formula III (Sedaxane), a compound offormula IV, a compound of formula V (Penthiopyrad), a compound offormula VI (Bixafen), a compound of formula VII (Fluxapyroxad), acompound of formula VIII, or a compound of formula IX:

Isopyrazam, Sedaxane, Penthiopyrad, Fluxapyroxad and Bixafen are knownfungicides. The compound of formula IV is known, e.g. from WO2007/048556, the compound of formula VIII is known e.g. from WO2010/000612, the compound of formula IX is known e.g. from WO2008/053044. Preferably the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicideis isopyrazam.

An additional active ingredients in the compositions of the inventionmay be e.g. an insecticide, fungicide, synergist, herbicide or plantgrowth regulator, preferably a fungicide, for example, one or more ofAzoxystrobin (131860-33-8), Dimoxystrobin (149961-52-4), Enestrobin(238410-11-2), Fluoxastrobin (193740-76-0), Kresoxim-methyl(143390-89-0), Metominostrobin (133408-50-1), Orysastrobin(248593-16-0), Picoxystrobin (117428-22-5), Pyraclostrobin(175013-18-0), trifloxystrobin (141517-21-7), Azaconazole (60207-31-0),Bromuconazole (116255-48-2), Cyproconazole (94361-06-5), Diniconazole(83657-24-3), Diniconazole-M (83657-18-5), Epoxiconazole (13385-98-8),Fenbuconazole (114369-43-6), Fluquinconazole (136426-54-5), Flusilazole(85509-19-9), Flutriafol (76674-21-0), Hexaconazole (79983-71-4),Imazalil (58594-72-2), Imibenconazole (86598-92-7), Ipconazole(125225-28-7), Metconazole (125116-23-6), Myclobutanil (88671-89-0),Oxpoconazole (174212-12-5), Pefurazoate (58011-68-0), Penconazole(66246-88-6), Prochloraz (67747-09-5), Propiconazole (60207-90-1),Prothioconazole (178928-70-6), Simeconazole (149508-90-7), Tebuconazole(107534-96-3), Tetraconazole (112281-77-3), Triadimefon (43121-43-3),Triadimenol (55219-65-3), Triflumizole (99387-89-0), Triticonazole(131983-72-7), Diclobutrazol (76738-62-0), Etaconazole (60207-93-4),Fluconazole (86386-73-4), Fluconazole-cis (112839-32-4), Thiabendazole(148-79-8), Quinconazole (103970-75-8), Fenpiclonil (74738-17-3),Fludioxonil (131341-86-1), Cyprodinil (121552-61-2), Mepanipyrim(110235-47-7), Pyrimethanil (53112-28-0), Aldimorph (91315-15-0),Dodemorph (1593-77-7), Fenpropimorph (67564-91-4), Tridemorph(81412-43-3), Fenpropidin (67306-00-7), Spiroxamine (118134-30-8),Isopyrazam (881685-58-1), Sedaxane (874967-67-6), Bixafen (581809-46-3),Penthiopyrad (183675-82-3), Fluxapyroxad (907204-31-3), Boscalid(188425-85-6), Penflufen (494793-67-8), Fluopyram (658066-35-4),Mandipropamid (374726-62-2), Benthiavalicarb (413615-35-7), Dimethomorph(110488-70-5), Chlorothalonil (1897-45-6), Fluazinam (79622-59-6),Dithianon (3347-22-6), Metrafenone (220899-03-6), Tricyclazole(41814-78-2), Mefenoxam (70630-17-0), Metalaxyl (57837-19-1),Acibenzolar (126448-41-7) (Acibenzolar-5-methyl (126448-41-7)), Mancozeb(8018-01-7), Ametoctradine (865318-97-4) Ipconazole (125225-28-7),Amisulbrom (348635-87-0), Cyflufenamid (180409-60-3), Ethaboxam(16650-77-3), Fluopicolide (239110-15-7), Fluthianil (304900-25-2),Isotianil (224049-04-1), Proquinazid (189278-12-4), Valiphenal(283159-90-0), 1-methyl-cyclopropene (3100-04-7), Trifloxystrobin(141517-21-7), Sulfur (7704-34-9), Copper ammoniumcarbonate (CAS33113-08-5); Copper oleate (CAS 1120-44-1); Folpet (133-07-3),Quinoxyfen (124495-18-7), Captan (133-06-2), Fenhexamid (126833-17-8),Glufosinate and its salts (51276-47-2, 35597-44-5 (S-isomer)),Glyphosate (1071-83-6) and its salts (69254-40-6 (Diammonium),34494-04-7 (Dimethylammonium), 38641-94-0 (Isopropylammonium),40465-66-5 (Monoammonium), 70901-20-1 (Potassium), 70393-85-0(Sesquisodium), 81591-81-3 (Trimesium)),1,3-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid(2-dichloromethylene-3-ethyl-1-methyl-indan-4-yl)-amide,1,3-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid(4′-methylsulfanyl-biphenyl-2-yl)-amide,1,3-Dimethyl-4H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid[2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl]-amide,(5-Chloro-2,4-dimethyl-pyridin-3-yl)-(2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-methyl-phenyl)-methanone,(5-Bromo-4-chloro-2-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)-(2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-methyl-phenyl)-methanone,2-{2-[(E)-3-(2,6-Dichloro-phenyl)-1-methyl-prop-2-en-(E)-ylideneaminooxymethyl]-phenyl}-2-[(Z)-methoxyimino]-N-methyl-acetamide,and3-[5-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine—wherethe additional active ingredient is different to the primary activeingredient.

The mixtures and compositions according to the invention are effectiveespecially against phytopathogenic fungi belonging to the followingclasses:

Fungi imperfecti (e.g. Alternaria spp.), Basidiomycetes (e.g. Corticiumspp., Ceratobasidium spp., Waitea spp., Thanatephorus spp., Rhizoctoniaspp., Hemileia spp., Puccinia spp., Phakopsora spp., Ustilago spp.,Tilletia spp.), Ascomycetes (e.g. Venturia spp., Blumeria spp., Erysiphespp., Podosphaera spp., Uncinula spp., Monilinia spp., Sclerotinia spp.,Colletotrichum spp., Glomerella spp., Fusarium spp., Gibberella spp.,Monographella spp., Phaeosphaeria spp., Mycosphaerella spp., Cercosporaspp., Pyrenophora spp., Rhynchosporium spp., Magnaporthe spp.,Gaeumannomyces spp., Oculimacula spp., Ramularia spp., Botryotinia spp.)and Oomycetes (e.g. Phytophthora spp., Pythium spp., Plasmopara spp.,Peronospora spp., Pseudoperonospora spp., Bremia spp). Furthermore, themixtures and compositions are effective against Plasmodiophora brassicae

According to the invention “useful plants” typically comprise thefollowing species of plants: grape vines; cereals, such as wheat,barley, maize, rice, rye or oats; beet, such as sugar beet or fodderbeet; fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, for exampleapples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries,raspberries or blackberries; leguminous plants, such as beans, lentils,peas or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, mustard, poppy, olives,sunflowers, coconut, castor oil plants, cocoa beans or groundnuts;cucumber plants, such as marrows, cucumbers or melons; fibre plants,such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges,lemons, grapefruit or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce,asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits orpaprika; lauraceae, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; maize;tobacco; nuts; coffee; sugar cane; tea; vines; hops; durian; bananas;natural rubber plants; turf or ornamentals, such as flowers, shrubs,broad-leaved trees or evergreens, for example conifers. This list doesnot represent any limitation.

Cereals, particularly wheat, rice, maize and barley are of particularinterest for the invention, particularly wheat.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also usefulplants that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides like bromoxynil orclasses of herbicides (such as, for example, HPPD inhibitors, ALSinhibitors, for example primisulfuron, prosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron,EPSPS (5-enol-pyrovyl-shikimate-3-phosphate-synthase) inhibitors, GS(glutamine synthetase) inhibitors or PPO (protoporphyrinogen-oxidase)inhibitors) as a result of conventional methods of breeding or geneticengineering. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant toimidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding(mutagenesis) is Clearfield® summer rape (Canola). Examples of cropsthat have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicidesby genetic engineering methods include glyphosate- andglufosinate-resistant maize varieties commercially available under thetrade names Genuity®, RoundupReady®, Herculex I® and LibertyLink®.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also usefulplants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNAtechniques that they are capable of synthesising one or more selectivelyacting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producingbacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also usefulplants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNAtechniques that they are capable of synthesising antipathogenicsubstances having a selective action, such as, for example, theso-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PRPs, see e.g. EP-A-0 392225). Examples of such antipathogenic substances and transgenic plantscapable of synthesising such antipathogenic substances are known, forexample, from EP-A-0 392 225, WO 95/33818, and EP-A-0 353 191. Themethods of producing such transgenic plants are generally known to theperson skilled in the art and are described, for example, in thepublications mentioned above.

The term “locus” of a useful plant as used herein is intended to embracethe place on which the useful plants are growing, where the plantpropagation materials of the useful plants are sown or where the plantpropagation materials of the useful plants will be placed into the soil.An example for such a locus is a field, on which crop plants aregrowing.

The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generativeparts of the plant, such as seeds, which can be used for themultiplication of the latter, and vegetative material, such as cuttingsor tubers, for example potatoes. There may be mentioned for exampleseeds (in the strict sense), roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes andparts of plants. Germinated plants and young plants which are to betransplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil, mayalso be mentioned. These young plants may be protected beforetransplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion. Preferably“plant propagation material” is understood to denote seeds.

The mixtures and compositions of the present invention may also be usedin the field of protecting storage goods against attack of fungi.According to the present invention, the term “storage goods” isunderstood to denote natural substances of vegetable and/or animalorigin and their processed forms, which have been taken from the naturallife cycle and for which long-term protection is desired. Storage goodsof vegetable origin, such as plants or parts thereof, for examplestalks, leafs, tubers, seeds, fruits or grains, can be protected in thefreshly harvested state or in processed form, such as pre-dried,moistened, comminuted, ground, pressed or roasted. Also falling underthe definition of storage goods is timber, whether in the form of crudetimber, such as construction timber, electricity pylons and barriers, orin the form of finished articles, such as furniture or objects made fromwood. Storage goods of animal origin are hides, leather, furs, hairs andthe like. The compositions according the present invention can preventdisadvantageous effects such as decay, discoloration or mold. Preferably“storage goods” is understood to denote natural substances of vegetableorigin and/or their processed forms, more preferably fruits and theirprocessed forms, such as pomes, stone fruits, soft fruits and citrusfruits and their processed forms. In another preferred embodiment of theinvention “storage goods” is understood to denote wood.

Therefore a further aspect of the present invention is a method ofprotecting storage goods, which comprises applying to the storage goodsa mixture or composition according to the invention.

The compositions of the present invention may also be used in the fieldof protecting technical material against attack of fungi. According tothe present invention, the term “technical material” includes paper;carpets; constructions; cooling and heating systems; wall-boards;ventilation and air conditioning systems and the like; preferably“technical material” is understood to denote wall-boards. Thecompositions according the present invention can prevent disadvantageouseffects such as decay, discoloration or mold.

The mixtures and compositions according to the invention areparticularly effective against powdery mildews; rusts; leafspot species;early blights and molds; especially against Septoria, Puccinia,Erysiphe, Pyrenophora and Tapesia in cereals; Phakopsora in soybeans;Hemileia in coffee; Phragmidium in roses; Alternaria in potatoes,tomatoes and cucurbits; Sclerotinia in turf, vegetables, sunflower andoil seed rape; black rot, red fire, powdery mildew, grey mold and deadarm disease in vine; Botrytis cinerea in fruits; Monilinia spp. infruits and Penicillium spp. in fruits.

The mixtures and compositions according to the invention are furthermoreparticularly effective against seedborne and soilborne diseases, such asAlternaria spp., Ascochyta spp., Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora spp.,Claviceps purpurea, Cochliobolus sativus, Colletotrichum spp., Epicoccumspp., Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum,Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium subglutinans,Gaumannomyces graminis, Helminthosporium spp., Microdochium nivale,Phoma spp., Pyrenophora graminea, Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctoniasolani, Rhizoctonia cerealis, Sclerotinia spp., Septoria spp.,Sphacelotheca reilliana, Tilletia spp., Typhula incarnata, Urocystisocculta, Ustilago spp. or Verticillium spp.; in particular againstpathogens of cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye or oats; maize; rice;cotton; soybean; turf; sugarbeet; oil seed rape; potatoes; pulse crops,such as peas, lentils or chickpea; and sunflower.

The mixtures and compositions according to the invention are furthermoreparticularly effective against post harvest diseases such as Botrytiscinerea, Colletotrichum musae, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitecum,Geotrichum candidum, Monilinia fructicola, Monilinia fructigena,Monilinia laxa, Mucor piriformis, Penicilium italicum, Peniciliumsolitum, Penicillium digitatum or Penicillium expansum in particularagainst pathogens of fruits, such as pome fruits, for example apples andpears, stone fruits, for example peaches and plums, citrus, melons,papaya, kiwi, mango, berries, for example strawberries, avocados,pomegranates and bananas, and nuts.

The mixtures and compositions according to the invention areparticularly useful for controlling the following diseases on thefollowing crops:

Alternaria species in fruit and vegetables; Ascochyta species in pulsecrops; Botrytis cinerea in strawberries, tomatoes, sunflower, pulsecrops, vegetables and grapes, such as Botrytis cinerea on grape;Cercospora arachidicola in peanuts; Cochliobolus sativus in cereals;Colletotrichum species in pulse crops; Erysiphe species in cereals; suchas Erysiphe graminis on wheat and Erysiphe graminis on barley; Erysiphecichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea in cucurbits; Fusarium speciesin cereals and maize; Gaumannomyces graminis in cereals and lawns;Helminthosporium species in maize, rice and potatoes; Hemileia vastatrixon coffee; Microdochium species in wheat and rye; Mycosphaerellafijiensis in banana; Phakopsora species in soybeans, such as Phakopsorapachyrizi in soybeans; Puccinia species in cereals, broadleaf crops andperennial plants; such as Puccinia recondita on wheat, Pucciniastriiformis on wheat and Puccinia recondita on barley;Pseudocercosporella species in cereals, such as Pseudocercosporellaherpotrichoides in wheat; Phragmidium mucronatum in roses; Podosphaeraspecies in fruits; Pyrenophora species in barley, such as Pyrenophorateres on barley; Pyricularia oryzae in rice; Ramularia collo-cygni inbarley; Rhizoctonia species in cotton, soybean, cereals, maize,potatoes, rice and lawns, such as Rhizoctonia solani on potato, rice,turf and cotton; Rhynchosporium secalis on barley, Rhynchosporiumsecalis on rye; Sclerotinia species in lawns, lettuce, vegetables andoil seed rape, such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape andSclerotinia homeocarpa on turf; Septoria species in cereals, soybean andvegetables, such as Septoria tritici on wheat, Septoria nodorum on wheatand Septoria glycines on soybean; Sphacelotheca reilliana in maize;Tilletia species in cereals; Uncinula necator, Guignardia bidwellii andPhomopsis viticola in vines; Urocystis occulta in rye; Uromyces speciesin beans; Ustilago species in cereals and maize; Venturia species infruits, such as Venturia inequalis on apple; Monilinia species onfruits; Penicillium species on citrus and apples.

For example, the mixtures and compositions of the invention are usefulfor controlling oomycete pathogens, in particular

-   -   Downy mildew (e.g. Plasmopora viticola, Bremia lactucae,        Peronospora parasitica, Peronospora destructor,        Pseudoperonospora cubensis).    -   Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici),    -   Late blight (Phytophthora infestans),    -   Blue Mold (Peronospora effusa) e.g. on the following crops:

-   Brassica vegetables (e.g. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage,    Cauliflower, Collards, Kale);

-   Mustard greens (e.g. head and stem subgroup—Cavalo broccolo, Chinese    broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Chinese mustard cabbage and    kohlrabi)(leafy greens subgroup—broccoli raab,

-   Chinese cabbage, mizuna, mustard spinach, rape greens);

-   Bulb vegetables (e.g. Dry bulb (garlic, bulb onion, shallot);

-   Green onion (e.g. leek, green onions, Welch onion);

-   Cucurbit vegetables (e.g. Cantaloupe, Chayote, Chinese waxgourd,    Cucumber, Gourds, Honeydew, Momordica spp. (bitter melon and balsam    apple), Muskmelon, Pumpkin, Squash, Watermelon, Zucchini);

-   Grapes;

-   Leafy vegetables (e.g. Amaranth, Arugula, Cardoon, Celery (Chinese),    Celtuce, Chervil, Chrysanthemum (edible-leaved and garland), Corn    saladCress (garden and upland), Dandelion, Dock, Endive, Fennel    (Florence), Orach, Parsley, Purslane (garden and winter), Radicchio    (red chicory), Rhubarb, Lettuce (leaf and head), Spinach (New    Zealand and vine), Swiss chard);

-   Peppers (bell pepper, non-bell pepper, sweet non-bell pepper).

Suitable Vegetables Include:

Brassica Vegetables: Broccoli; Chinese broccoli (gai lon); Brusselssprouts; Cabbage; Chinese cabbage (napa); Chinese mustard cabbage (gaichoy); Cauliflower; Cavalo broccoli; Kohlrabi. Broccoli rabb; Chinesecabbage; Collards; Kale; Mizuna; Mustard greens; Mustard spinach; Rapegreens. Bulb Vegetables: Onion, bulb, Garlic, Shallot, Green Onion:Green onions; Leek; Welch onion. Cucurbits: Cantaloupe; Chayote;Chinese-waxgourd; Field cucumber; Gourds; Honeydew Melons; Momordicaspp. (bitter melon, balsam apple); Muskmelon; Watermelon; Pumpkin;Squash; Zucchini. Peppers: Field pepper transplants;

For use on peppers to be treated in the greenhouse and immediatelytransplanted to the field. Bell peppers, Non-bell peppers, Sweetnon-bell peppers. Tomatoes: Field Tomato, Tomatillo, Greenhouse Tomatoes(e.g. for use in greenhouse only—not for transplant to the field). LeafyVegetables: Field lettuce, leaf and head lettuce. Spinach. GreenhouseLettuce (e.g. for use in greenhouse only—not for transplant to thefield).

The use of abscisic acid in combination with succinate dehydrogenaseinhibitor, e.g. isopyrazam, can also result in beneficial effects on theplant, e.g. an increase in plant health, particularly when the plant isa cereal e.g. wheat. An increase in plant health includes increasedresistance to abiotic stress conditions and/or biotic stress conditions.Abiotic stress refers, for example, to environmental conditions whichare not conducive to plant health, in particular high temperaturefluctuations, heat, chill, drought, water-logging, high salinity, highUV radiation exposure, organic, inorganic pollution. Biotic stressrefers, for example to stress conditions caused by organisms, forexample by pests (such as insects, arachnids, nematodes and the like),competing plants (for example weeds), phytopathogenic fungi and othermicroorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. It has been found that themethods and compositions of the invention are particularly effectivewhen plants are exposed to abiotic stress conditions.

When applied to the useful plants the fungicidally active ingredient istypically applied at a rate of 5 to 2000 g a.i./ha, particularly 10 to1000 g a.i./ha, e.g. 50, 75, 100 or 200 g a.i./ha, typically inassociation with 0.5 to 1000 g/ha, preferably 1 to 750 g/ha, morepreferably 2.5 to 500 g/ha, more preferably 5 to 300 g/ha, morepreferably 7.5 to 200 g/ha of abscisic acid.

In agricultural practice the application rates of the compositionsaccording to the invention depend on the type of effect desired, andtypically range from 20 to 4000 g of total composition per hectare.

When the mixtures and compositions according to the invention are usedfor treating seed, rates of 0.001 to 50 g of a compound of thefungicidally active compound per kg of seed, preferably from 0.01 to 10g per kg of seed, and 0.0001 to 50 g of the abscisic acid, per kg ofseed, preferably from 0.001 to 10 g per kg of seed, e.g. 0.01 to 10 gper kg of seed are generally sufficient.

The mixtures and composition of the invention may be employed in anyconventional form, for example in the form of a twin pack, a powder fordry seed treatment (DS), an emulsion for seed treatment (ES), a flowableconcentrate for seed treatment (FS), a solution for seed treatment (LS),a water dispersible powder for seed treatment (WS), a capsule suspensionfor seed treatment (CF), a gel for seed treatment (GF), an emulsionconcentrate (EC), a suspension concentrate (SC), a suspo-emulsion (SE),a capsule suspension (CS), a water dispersible granule (WG), anemulsifiable granule (EG), an emulsion, water in oil (EO), an emulsion,oil in water (EW), a micro-emulsion (ME), an oil dispersion (OD), an oilmiscible flowable (OF), an oil miscible liquid (OL), a solubleconcentrate (SL), an ultra-low volume suspension (SU), an ultra-lowvolume liquid (UL), a technical concentrate (TK), a dispersibleconcentrate (DC), a wettable powder (WP) or any technically feasibleformulation in combination with agriculturally acceptable adjuvants.

Such mixtures and compositions may be produced in conventional manner,e.g. by mixing the active ingredients with at least one appropriateinert formulation adjuvant (for example, diluents, solvents, fillers andoptionally other formulating ingredients such as surfactants, biocides,anti-freeze, stickers, thickeners and compounds that provide adjuvancyeffects). Also conventional slow release formulations may be employedwhere long lasting efficacy is intended. Particularly formulations to beapplied in spraying forms, such as water dispersible concentrates (e.g.EC, SC, DC, OD, SE, EW, EO and the like), wettable powders and granules,may contain surfactants such as wetting and dispersing agents and othercompounds that provide adjuvancy effects, e.g. the condensation productof formaldehyde with naphthalene sulphonate, an alkylarylsulphonate, alignin sulphonate, a fatty alkyl sulphate, and ethoxylated alkylphenoland an ethoxylated fatty alcohol.

Customary formulation ingredients are, for example, formulationingredients that are do not have any significant biological activity, orhave no biological activity. They include, for example, diluents,solvents, fillers, surfactants, biocides, anti-freeze, stickers,thickeners and compounds that provide adjuvancy effects.

A seed dressing formulation is applied in a manner known per se to theseeds employing the combination of the invention and a diluent insuitable seed dressing formulation form, e.g. as an aqueous suspensionor in a dry powder form having good adherence to the seeds. Such seeddressing formulations are known in the art. Seed dressing formulationsmay contain the single active ingredients or the combination of activeingredients in encapsulated form, e.g. as slow release capsules ormicrocapsules. A typical a tank-mix formulation for seed treatmentapplication comprises 0.25 to 80%, especially 1 to 75%, of the desiredingredients, and 99.75 to 20%, especially 99 to 25%, of a solid orliquid auxiliaries (including, for example, a solvent such as water),where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 40%,especially 0.5 to 30%, based on the tank-mix formulation. A typicalpre-mix formulation for seed treatment application comprises 0.5 to99.9%, especially 1 to 95%, of the desired ingredients, and 99.5 to0.1%, especially 99 to 5%, of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, forexample, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be asurfactant in an amount of 0 to 50%, especially 0.5 to 40%, based on thepre-mix formulation.

In general, the formulations include from 0.01 to 90% by weight ofactive agent, from 0 to 20% agriculturally acceptable surfactant and 10to 99.99% solid or liquid formulation inerts and adjuvant(s), the activeagent consisting of at least a compound of the fungicidally activeingredient together with the plant hormone and optionally other activeagents, particularly microbiocides or conservatives or the like.Concentrated forms of compositions generally contain in between about 2and 80%, preferably between about 5 and 70% by weight of active agent.Application forms of formulation may for example contain from 0.01 to20% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 5% by weight of active agent.Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated asconcentrates, the end user will normally employ diluted formulations.

Application of the fungicide and abscisic acid, e.g. as a “combination”may be in a single “ready-mix” form, such as a ready-to-use formulationcomprising the two components in a fixed ratio; or in a combined spraymixture composed from separate formulations of the single activeingredient components, e.g. a “tank-mix”, or in a combined use of theindividual ingredients when applied in common spray plan or schedule asequential manner, i.e. one after the other with a reasonably shortperiod, e.g. a few hours. When applied in separate sprays following eachother, the order of applying the components is not essential forachieving the effect according to the present invention.

The Examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention. Theinvention is not limited to these Examples. All references mentionedherein are incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLE Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici)/Wheat/Preventative(Septoria tritici Leaf Spot on Wheat)

The isopyrazam is formulated as an emulsion concentrate formulation andmixed with water to form a stock solution and ultrasonically agitated inorder to achieve homogeneous distribution. Spray solutions are made upfrom the stock solution by dilution in water/isopropanol (10%isopropanol v/v), with abscisic acid added where needed as a tank mix tothe diluted stock solution, and mechanically stirred just beforespraying. Foliar application is at 200 L/ha using an application devicespraying with a single nozzle (Lechler type) 60 cm above the plants.Typically two-week old wheat plants cv. Riband are sprayed with thespray solution in the spray chamber of the application device. The testplants are inoculated by spraying a spore suspension on them one dayafter application. After an incubation period of 1 day at typically 22°C./21° C. (day/night) and 95% rh, the inoculated test plants are kept attypically 22° C./21° C. (day/night) and 70% rh in a greenhouse.Percentage efficacy is assessed by direct visual comparison to untreatedcheck plants when an appropriate level of disease appears on theuntreated checks (typically 14-19 days after application). The resultsare shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Isopyrazam Abscisic acid (mg/ml) (% w/v) % Disease Control — — 0— 0.0238 0 — 0.0025 0 625.00 — 80 156.25 — 67 39.06 — 50 9.77 — 10 2.44— 3 595.24 0.0238 87 148.81 0.0238 77 37.20 0.0238 77 9.30 0.0238 572.32 0.0238 57 621.89 0.0025 87 155.47 0.0025 73 38.87 0.0025 63 9.720.0025 47 2.43 0.0025 43 “% w/v” of Abscisic acid is relative to thespray solution which was sprayed at 200 L/ha. Likewise, “mg/ml” ofisopyrazam is relative to the spray solution.

Although all spray solutions were made up and diluted inwater/isopropanol (10% isopropanol v/v), this water/isopropanoltreatment alone was seen to give zero disease control, therebyconfirming isopyrazam and any abscisic acid added to be responsible forany disease control effects seen.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising applying to a usefulplant, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combinationof abscisic acid and isopyrazam, and wherein the combination exhibits anincrease in fungicidal activity as compared to isopyrazam withoutabscisic acid.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the usefulplant is at risk of an infection of Septoria tritici (Mycosphaerellagraminicola).
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the useful plantis a cereal.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the useful plantis wheat.
 5. A method of increasing the fungicidal activity ofisopyrazam, the method comprising applying a combination of abscisicacid and isopyrazam to a useful plant, the locus thereof or propagationmaterial thereof, and wherein the combination exhibits an increase infungicidal activity as compared to isopyrazam without abscisic acid. 6.A composition comprising abscisic acid and isopyrazam wherein thecomposition, when in contact with a fungal pathogen, exhibits anincrease in fungicidal activity as compared to isopyrazam withoutabscisic acid.
 7. A composition according to claim 6, comprising afurther active ingredient.
 8. A seed comprising a combination ofabscisic acid and isopyrazam, wherein the combination, when in contactwith a fungal pathogen, exhibits an increase in fungicidal activity ascompared to isopyrazam without abscisic acid.